I met me friend Paddy McKenna One evening on Washington Street Said he to me, "Say Jimmy Dolan Here's a ticket will give you a treat!" I took up the card that he offered Begob t'wasn't large, t'wasn't small It just admitted a gent and a lady To a party in Oddfellow's hall

CHORUS: Waltzes, polkas, lancers, gallops and slide Hi-dos, di-dos, fancy quadrilles, reels and slide I'll never forget that night you may bet I went down to Oddfellows Hall

McKenna he was floor director He wore a green badge on his chest Pink necktie tucked into his shirt front Begob he was handsomely dressed And when he walked up with Miss Bridget Sure I wasn't in it at all But I says to meself, "Wait, McKenna There's more than one man in the hall"

Chorus: Waltzes, polkas, etc.

I waited 'til after it was over Then up to him boldly I go Says I to him, "Shy Patty Where did you hire them clothes?" "You're a liar!" says Pat in a second Says I, "What's that word that ye called?" And the next minute me and McKenna Were cleaning up Oddfellows Hall

CHORUS: Waltzes polkas…etc.

Next mornin' before Justice Duffy Sure me and McKenna were brought in Ten dollars or ten days sir But poor me and Pat hadn't a ten We took a short sail down the harbour Begob we were feellin' quite small We spent ten days on their island For cleaning up Oddfellows Hall

1 I met my friend Patrick McKenna, One ev'ning on Washington Street, He said to me "Hy, Timmy Dolan, Here's a ticket will give you a treat." I took up the card that he offered, 'Twas not very large, twas'n't small, It said "Admit a gent and lady To the party in Odd Fellows Hall." 2 I paid fifty cents for the ticket, Then I called on Miss Bridget McCann, She said she would go to the party, 'Cause I was such an elegant man. So we went down and jumped in a herdie, The driver says "Where shall I call?" Says I, in a dignified manner, "You can take us to Odd fellows Hall." 3 McKenna he was floor director, He wore a green badge on his chest, A pink necktie tucked in his shirt-front, Begob, he was handsomely dressed. And when he waltzed off wid Miss Bridget, Sure, I wasn't in it at all, But says I to meself, "Whist, Mc. Kenna, There's more than one man in the Hall.

Chorus. Waltzes, Polkas, Lancers, Galops, Glides,- Portland Fancy, Quadrilles and Reels, and Slides,- High-lows, Didos, how they danc'd 'em all, I'll never forget the time, you can bet, I went down to Odd Fellows Hall.

4 I waited until they had finished, Then up to him boldly goes, And says I to him: "Patsy McKenna, Sy where did ye hire them clothes?" "You're a liar!" says Pat in a second, Says I "What's that word that ye call?" And the next minute me and McKenna Were cleaning up Odd Fellows Hall. 5 Next morning, before Justice Duffy, McKenna and me were brought in, "Ten dollars," says he, "or ten days, sir!" And me and Pat hadn't the tin. So we took a short sail down the harbor, Begob, we were feeling quite small, And we stayed for ten days on Deer Island, For scrapping in Odd Fellows Hall.

Lyr. Add: IF THERE'S A PLEASURE ON EARTH The Odd Fellows Song Music C. F. Hupfeld(t), 1847

1 Oh! if there's a pleasure on earth that's more pure, Or more blest than another, say is it not this; To lighten the sorrows that others endure! To hold out a hand to "A Friend in distress" 'Tis a pleasure that selfishness never can know, A joy that no language, no pen cab express, Ah who can forget, that once felt the glow, That the heart gives while helping "A Friend in distress." 2 Since each has his trials, and troubles to bear, While as pilgrims we journey along the same road, When we meet with a brother with more than his share, 'Tis "Humanity" bids us to "lighten his load." The richest today may tomorrow be poor, If we've little how many there are who have less Oh! ne'er should the heart then, the hand, or the door, Be closed to the claims* of "A Friend in distress."

Growing up in a central California area fairly near the gold rush country of 1849, I noticed as a youngster that a fairly prominent building in many of the towns along old Highway 49 was the I.O.O.F. hall. Apparently, the International Order of Odd Fellows was very quickly made a central part of the predominantly male culture of the gold rush camps. Does anyone have versions from that area and place?

Lyr. Add: MY INITIATION, or How I Joined the Odd Fellows Words John Poole, Music Thomas Yates, 1874 1 Ye brothers of the Mystic Tie, Unto my song give ear, while I Tell you the When, the Where,- the Why, I got Initiated. One Jollie Green, a friend, d'ye see, With whom I often made quite free, One day he chanced to say to me "Why don't you an Odd Fellow be?" My name up to the Lodge I sent, The initiation fee I spent, And along with him one evening went- To be Initiated. 2 First my eyesight they did blind, And then they tied my hands behind; I really thought it most unkind For to be so badly treated. While I around my way did feel, Upon sharp tacks they made me kneel, Then with a grasp which made me reel, They bound me on a monstrous wheel, Then whirl'd me round with lightning speed, My agony they did not heed; Oh! I only wish'd my hands were freed, When I was Initiated.

Chorus. That time I never have forgot, With the great Gridiron roaring hot, And the Goat, which round the room did trot, When I was Initiated.

3 They gave me next a shower bath, Which further did increase my wrath; And one sang out "The Rugged Path, There let the wretch be seated." Then up a ladder, a mile or more, And down they plunged me, with a roar, Until, with bones all bruised and sore, At length I sprawled upon the floor. "Do let me up!" at once I cried; But I found my feet together tied, And on a rail I took a ride, While being Initiated. 4 Then suddenly somebody said: "Let the unenlightened wretch be bled, And place the pitch-cap on his head, Let his nose be nutmeg-grated: Put mustard plasters on his feet, And then, to make the work complete, That he may have a warmer seat, The great Gridiron quickly heat." Then I thought I should give up the ghost, When on it I was placed to toast, I felt again, smelt someting roast, When I was Initiated. 5 A sulphurous smell now filled the air, And I heard four hoofs behind me bear, When I knew that horrible goat was there; Oh! wasn't I aggrravated? I again was seized, on his back was bound, With a kick and a plunge he rushed around, With such terrible speed to go over the ground, I'm sure no velocipede ever was found, My ears were stunned by the awful din, As he sped up and down, and out and in, I thought a whole bone wasn't left in my skin, When I was Initiated. 6 As I wondered what trial there next would be, A voice proclaimed; "Ye may set him free, If he'll take the oath he hears from me." That I'd do it I quickly stated, And these were the terrible words I spoke. "I promise never to drink or smoke, Never to laugh and never to joke, Or my nose into other folks' business poke." My eyes were unbound, and I looked around, Found myself in the Lodge room safe and sound, And I've never regretted the night, I'll be bound, When I was Initiated.

Chorus. Oh, no, the time I'll ne'er forget, When first I joined that friendly set, Whom as brother Odd Fellows I've often met, Since I was Initiated.

Charley, your comment about the empty IOOF lodge caused me to think of the Masonic Lodge in Santa Fe, Montezuma No. 1, AF&AM, chartered in 1851. I remember the old Victorian furniture; the Lodge was in an old building on the plaza. Kit Carson and the like, as Masons, were visitors. Currently the lodge is in a building with stark modern furnishings-cold and unattractive- see at http://www.montezumalodge.org. I wonder what happened to the old furniture and fittings. Probably some given away, mostly destroyed by now, and the woodwork went to the dump; the building remodeled to cater to tourist dollars.

The old lodges, Masons, IOOF, etc., were an important part of life in the west (as well as back in your Yankee land). Too bad most of them are gone.

There are Oddfellows Halls all over the Gold Rush area of California, but I've never actually came across anyone who belonged to the IOOF. Well, the Georgian group R.E.M. has a song about Oddfellows. Not what we're talking about, but I thought somebody might be interested. -Joe in Colfax, California-

Oddfellows Local 151 (As Recorded by R.E.M.)

Oddfellows local 151 behind the firehouse Where Peewee sits to prove a sage to teach Peewee gathered up his proof Reached up and scratched his head Fell down and hit the ground again

Firehouse. Firehouse.

Why do the heathens rage behind the firehouse Where Peewee sits upon the wall to preach? This boy and girl that gather pearls Of wisdom falling from his mouth Wash off the blood, wash off the rum

Firehouse. Firehouse.

Oddfellows local 151 behind the firehouse Where Peewee sits upon the wall to preach. This boy and girl that gather pearls Of wisdom falling from his mouth Wash off the blood, wash off the 151.

Years ago, Peter Johnson used to promote concerts in Cambridge, MA, at the Oddfellows Hall. Nice venue; we played there several times. Not too long afterward I was at a summer camp with Tony Saletan who sang, on a night off at the local tavern (with a piano) a highly entertaining version of Oddfellows Hall, and we all learned the chorus. Tony's still around - I saw him on the east coast last month though I believe he lives out west now. And the song has been around, though it might be temporarily dormant. (Though apparently Dick Swain sings it, but I have not heard his rendition).